Reggie Garcia: Florida must look at parole in new ways

5:53 PM,
Nov. 15, 2013

Reggie Garcia

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Reggie Garcia
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Parole is the discretionary release of an inmate from a prison sentence, an "act of grace" from the state. No inmate can claim the right to parole.

Though parole once was a prominent feature of Florida's criminal justice system, its phaseout began in 1983, when the state Supreme Court established sentencing guidelines that applied to all felonies, except capital felonies, committed after Oct. 1, 1983. Parole sentencing remained in effect for certain capital felonies until Oct. 1, 1995, when it was abolished for all capital felonies.